Rockland inducts four into Civil Rights Hall of Fame

Published in 12/8/2006

NYACK - Rockland's Human Rights Commission honored four local activists and advocates yesterday, inducting them as the newest members of the county's Civil Rights Hall of Fame. This year's selected heroes were Dr. Susan Gordon, a retired pediatrician and children's education advocate; her husband, Edmund Gordon, a renowned psychology and education academic and researcher; Walter Blount Jr., a lifelong Rockland resident and activist; and the late Bill Scott, an outspoken civil rights leader.They were selected for their contribution to the advancement of equality, diversity, human rights and civil rights in RocklandCounty.

Gordon is a professor emeritus at Teachers College of Columbia University and at YaleUniversity. He also is a senior scholar in residence for the College Board. "We're getting old, so I guess they're trying to get to us before we kick it," 85-year-old Edmund Gordon said with a chuckle. His wife, Susan, was a longtime East Ramapo Board of Education member and a former member of the school board for the LexingtonSchool for the Deaf.

Susan Gordon, 82, said she was honored to be one of this year's inductees, but added that there was still much to do to combat discrimination. "We haven't reached the point where everybody is being valued for who they are," she said. "We're all members of human society and we should all have the opportunity to achieve our highest potential."

This article appeared in the December 8, 2006 edition of the Journal News.